In March, an undocumented and unlawful weapons policy was illegally enforced under threat of trespass against members of Michigan Gun Owners (MGO), and Michigan Open Carry, Inc. (MOC) at the publicly owned DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids.

Since that day, all efforts by members of, and attorneys for, both organizations to ascertain the exact nature of the policy and under what legal authority it was created, have been rebuffed by the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority (CAA), the public authority that owns and operates DeVos Place. To date, no documentation outlining any policy, the approval of any policy, nor the legal justification for any policy has been produced by CAA.

After the tragic events in Orlando, and after seeing no other means of recourse, both MGO and MOC made the decision to forego any further attempts to work with CAA and instead turn to legal action.

“We tried to work with them, but they wouldn’t work with with us. After Orlando, we decided we were done waiting. Now they can tell a judge why they won’t follow the law.” said MOC President Tom Lambert.

Both gun organizations feel that not only is CAA’s policy illegal, it is also dangerous and reckless.

Dave Dellinger, a Board Member for MGO, was at the expo. “We were there for most of the day before we were approached by unarmed security. After we were disarmed, there was nothing left to stop someone who really wanted to do something horrible. We should empower law-abiding citizens, not leave them defenseless.”

“How many more times do we have to suffer the consequences of a ‘gun-free-zone’? I’m just glad we’re able to do something about this one.” said MGO President Mike Borders.

MGO and MOC have filed for declaratory relief in the 17th Circuit Court for Kent County and are asking the Court to declare CAA’s policy unlawful and order CAA to cease any further unlawful actions in regards to regulating lawfully possessed firearms. View the complaint.

Press Contact Name:

Tom Lambert

(616) 638-7620

president@miopencarry.org

About MOC

MOC is a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to advocate for the lawful open carry of a holstered handgun. We seek to educate the public about their right to keep and bear arms in regards to the open carry of a handgun.